The hardest part of having a short-term foster puppy? Learning to understand her unique puppy sounds. Silent Honey Puppy Honey was pretty quiet. She had two cries: I’m hungry. Feed me now. I gotta pee. Let me out. Why was she so silent? Because it’s hard to cry when your mouth is full of sweater, …
Fostering
Give This Foster Puppy a Name
Are you ready for a puppy fix? Meet… Well, she doesn’t have a name yet. She’s a 9 week old basset hound. She loves to chew, but only on what she’s supposed to. She doesn’t walk so much as gambol or frolic. She’s a cute little whatshername. The only troublesome habit I’ve seen so far …
What Does Fostering Cost YOUR Dog?
The muddy throw rugs are coming out of the laundry. The dog toys are back where they belong. I’m taking down the temporary crate Bandit slept in. Things are getting back to normal. But Honey is still sad. My dog misses the foster dog as much as we do. Hard to Give Up a Foster Dog …
Play to Your Strengths – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Some of the foster dogs we care for don’t like Honey. Or any dog, really. They tell her they don’t want to play. And she leaves them alone. But if you want to see Honey at her best, watch her when a playful dog comes to stay with us. Like Bandit, our current foster puppy. …
Make Allowances for Stress – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Short sentences. Don’t have long. Bandit, our new foster puppy, should be done chewing his bone in about… Oh, damn. Puppies = Stress Puppy breath causes amnesia. If it didn’t, dog breeders of all kinds would take up stamp collecting. Who wants an insatiably curious set of razor-sharp teeth with four feet and a tail …
Happy and Sad Go Together – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Layla put her front paws on the glass and wagged fiercely as she watched her new adoptive family leave to fill out adoption paperwork. She looked like a happy pup watching people she found interesting. But she was also bewildered by having a big dog and his people in “her” house. And not quite sure …
The Best Thing About Fostering Dogs No One Talks About
Update: Layla just went home with her name family a short time ago. They’re a wonderful couple with a large, mellow lab/hound mix. Everyone will have an adjustment period but I suspect they’ll be very happy together. We all know about the joys of puppy breath. The feeling of satisfaction from helping a suffering dog. And …
Know Your Limits – Good for the Dog; Good for You
Our current foster dog, Layla, is a beagle mix. What’s she mixed with? Mexican jumping bean. No Dog is Perfect Layla is the easiest dog we’ve ever fostered. She’s affectionate, calm, and sweet. She’s happy to go for a walk with you. But if it’s cold, she’s just as happy to curl up near you …
Fostering from a Dog’s Point of View
House guests bring stress. Is there enough milk? Will you run out of hot water after the third long shower? And how will you keep everyone from getting on each other’s nerves in tight quarters? What’s a dog’s version of house guests? A foster pet. So what does fostering feel like to your dog? Fostering …
What the Heck is Wrong With This Foster Dog?
Tonight will mark one week since we picked up our latest foster dog, Layla. It’s time to ask what’s wrong with her. Why isn’t she in a wonderful home of her own? Backstory Layla was in a foster home before ours. Her first foster person told us Layla had been surrendered to the SPCA because …